Fire-extinguisher.



T. F. HANDLY. PIRE EXTINGUISHBR.'

APPLICATION mmm Dna. 21,1905.

Patented Apr.5, 1910.

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PIRE BXTINGUISHBB..

APPLIGATION FILED Dsc. 21.1905.

954,281 Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

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THOMAS F. HANDLY, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

Application led December 21, 1905. Serial No. 292,757.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. HANDLY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State ofFennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFire-Extinguishers, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in tireextinguishers, and relates more particularly to that type of apparatuscommonly known as a chemical ire extinguisher.

My invention aims primarily to provide an adjustable cage for acidreceptacles, such as are employed in combination with a suitable casingcontaining an alkali solution, to produce gas having expelling forcesuiicient to extinguish a fire. In this connection, I have devised anadjustable cage adapted to support bottles of various sizes andcontours.

To this end, the invention in its broadest aspect involves incombination with a cage, positive and reliable means for adjusting thecage and supporting a bottle or receptacle within a confined spacerelative to the casing, also means for eiiecting a dischargebf the acidwhen the fire extinguisher is inverted whereby the alkali solution orfluid contained within the extinguisher will be thoroughly impregnatedwith the acid and form an extinguishing solution.

Another very important feature of my invention resides in the simplicityof construction which I have used. throughout the various formsstruction employed entirely dispensing with the cumbersome cagesheretofore used.

With the above and other objects in view, which will more readily appearas the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consistsin the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to behereinafter more fully described and claimed, and referring to thedrawing accompanying this application, like numerals of referencedesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which z-Figure l is a front elevation of my improved cage for tireextinguishers, illustrating the same detachably secured to the lid orcap of an extinguisher, Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same,Fig. 3 is a verof the invention, the simple con-V.

tical sectional view of a movable stopper used in connection with theacid rece tacle of the cage, Fig. 4 is a cross sectiona view taken onthe line -m of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow of saidfigure, Fig. 5 is a. similar view taken on the line y-y of Fig. l,looking in the direction of the arrow of said figure, Fig. G is avertical sectional View of a modified forni of sto per, Fig. 7 is afront elevation of a slight y modified form of cage, Fig. 8 is a similarview of still another form of cage, Fig. 9 is a side elevation of thesame, Fi 10 is a cross sectional view taken on the Iine aa of Fig. 7,Fig. 11 is a detail side elevation of a portion of a cage, illustratingthe same to be used in connection with an adjustable retaining ring,Fig. l2 is a plan of a retaining ring, Fig. 13 is a bottoni plan of apoi'- tion o f a cage equipped with an adjustable retaining ring.

It is well known, that bottles of any given capacity or chamber-areaare, as a rule, manufactured in different shapes, heights, etc., and thecapacity or chamber-area oi one bottle may be exactly the same as thatof another bottle of an entirely different shape. It is the aim of myinvention to provide a cage for fire-extinguishers with means forengaging, and steadily-supporting, bottles of different diameters,heights, cross-sectional contours, or other diiering features, buthaving the same internal capacity or chamber-area- In the accompanyingdrawing, I have illustrated a conventional form of cap or lid l, such asis generally used upon chemical fire extinguishers, the cap beinprovided with a depending screw threade stem 2 in order that it may besecured to my improved cage. It has been the practice to provide the capwith a ca e which supports an acid bottle or receptac e, while thecasing is provided with an alkali solution adapted to be impregnated bythe contents of the bottle or receptacle, when the casing is inverted.

My invention particularl resides in the construction of an adjustab ecage which is detachably connected to the cap or lid 1 of theextinguisher, and in the accompanying drawings, I have illustratedvarious forms, all of which are within the scope of the invention, andare adjustable in one respect or the other.

Reference first being had to Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, it will be observedthat my improved cage consists of a mixing cup 3 having depending arms4, 4 and 5, 5, said arms being slightly bent outwardly, as at G, 6. Themixing cup is provided with a central screw threaded recess 7 adapted toreceive the screw threaded stein 2 carried centrally of the cap orlid 1. The mixing cup, which is preferably cylindrical, but may be anyshape, is ada ted to bear against the underneath face o the cap 1 whensecured thereto, the top of the mixing cup forming a substantial bearingsurface when the extinguisher is inverted. The depending arms 4 adjacentto the mixing cup are provided with a retaining ring S), said ring beingsupported centrally of said arms by outwardly extending ribs 10, l0carried by the arms 4, 4.

In practice, the mixing cup, together With the arms 4, 4 and 5 5 and theretaining ring are formed integral and to further brace the arms, Iemploy a transversely disposed frame 11 which is carried by the arms 4,4 and 5, 5 beneath the retaining ring 9 the frame 11 being preferablyarranged a slight distance below Where the arms are bent outwardly, asat 6, 6. A particular feature of my invention resides in the formationof the frame l1 which is substantially rectangular in plan view, theframe being formed by side rails 12, 12 and end rails 14, 14, thejuncture of said rails forming rectangular corners 15, so as to embracea bottle or receptacle substantially rectangular in cross section. Theside rails 12, 12 are curved outwardly, as at 16, 16, to embrace abottle 17 of cylindrical form as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 5of the drawings. The end rails 14, 14 are also formed with out- Wardlyextending ortions 18, 18, thus adapting the frame 1 to also iit a bottle1E) rectangular or oval in cross section. By the construction of theframe 11, it will be observed that almost any shaped bottle orreceptacle can be mounted in the frame 11 and retained therein andprevented from becoming displaced from my improved cage.

The lower ends of the arms 4, 4 and 5, 5 form legs to support the cageand the cap 1, when they are disconnected from the casing of theextinguisher. In connection With the lower ends of the arms 4, 4 and 5,5, I use an adjustable bottom plate 20, forming a support or rest forthe bottle said plate being circular in lan vieW and having its edgesprovided with slots 21, 21 to receive the ends of the arms 5, 5, andwith bayonet shaped slots 22, 22 to receive the lower ends of the arms4, 4. The ends or legs of the arms 4, 4 have their inner or confrontingfaces provided with a plurality of notches 23, 23 and in these notchesthe shoulders or sides 24, 24, of the bayonet shaped slots 22, 22 areadapted to engage. The plate 20 is adapted to support the bottle orreceptacle 25 mounted in the cage, and is positioned according to thedepth of the bottle or receptacle.

In placing an acid receptacle or bottle Within the cage the neck of thebottle or receptacle extends upwardly through the rctaining ring 9,While the body of the receptacle or bottle is embraced by the frame 11and supported by the plate 20. It Will be observed that tlie top of thebottle protrudes slightly into the mixing cu 3 and in connection withthe neck of tie bottle or receptacle I use a stopper 26, said stopper being constructed of lead or a metal not aii'ected by the acid or contentsof the bottle or receptacle 25. The stopper is adapted to fit looselyover the top ot the bottle and is provided with a depending stem 27,which is detachably secured to the stopper as at 28, in order that thestem may be removed and a larger stem placed therein in case a largersized bottle or receptacle is used, the stein being ada ted to litWithin the neck of the bottle an revent the stop er from beconiindisplaced relative to tie cage or receptac e, as Will be presentlydescribed. In some instances the stem 27 may be provided With a sleeve29 in order to increase tlie cross area of the stem to fit larger sizedreceptacles or bottles than that shown.

Reference will now be had to Figs. 7 and 10 of the drawin s, wherein Ihave illustrated a less comp icated structure than the cage heretoforedescribed, the arms 5, 5 and the frame 11 being entirely dispensed with.The mixing cup 30 is provided with two dependin arms 31, B1, and aretaining ring 32 similar to the cage heretofore described, and thelower ends of the arms 31, 31 are connected together by a plate 33 andprovided With a plurality of inwardly extending lugs 34, 34, which serveto support a false or adjustable bottom 35. The pe riphery of the falseor adjustable bottom "35 is provided With diametrically opposed recesses36, 36 to engage between the lugs 34, 34 of the arms 31, 31, saidrecesses corresponding substantially to bayonet shaped slots. The plate35 is provided With four upwardly extending angular lugs 37, 37, theedges 88, 38 of said lugs forming a surface to embrace a c lindricalbottle, While the angularity of t e lugs forms a surface to embrace arectangular or oval receptacle. The lugs are ada ted to embrace thebottom sides of a bott e or receptacle, While the retaining rin 32 isadapted to embrace the neck of a ottle or receptacle and when a bottleor receptacle is properly positioned Within the cage, it will beobserved that it will be impossible for a bottle to become displacedfrom the cage. unless the false bottom or plate 35 is removed from itssupporting lugs 34.

A slight modification of my improved cage for extinguishers isillustrated in Fig?. 8 and 9 of the drawings, where it will be o servedthat depending arms 39, 39 of the mixin cup 40 are of a less length thanthe arms eretofore described, but still support a retaining rin 41similar to the rings 9 and 32. n or er tosu port a bottle between thearms 39, 39 an Within the retain ing ring 41, I use a plate 42 similarto the plate 35, but provided with upwardly extending arms 43, 43instead of the recesses 36, 3G of the plate 35. The upper ends of thearms 43, 43 are enlarged, as at 44 and provided with a plurality oftransverse Slots 45 which are adapted to engage pins 46, 46, carried bythe enlarged lower ends 47, 47 of the arms 39, 39. After a bottle orreceptacle has been placed within the retaining ring, 41, the plate 42can be moved to en age the bottom of the bottle or receptacle an thearms 43, 43 locked in engagement with the depending arms 39, 39 of themixing cup 40. By providing a plurality of slots 45, the plate 42 can beeasily adjusted to engage bottles or receptacles of various depths, tohold them in proper position relative to the retaining ring 41.

Another feature of my invention resides in making a portion of the cage,namely the retaining ring, adjustable this feature being clearl ilustrated in Figs. 11 to 13 inclusive. he arms 48 48 of the mixing cup 49are provided with inwardly extendin pins 50, 50, said pins engagingslotted curve plates 51, 51 carried 'b the ribs 52, 52 of a retainin rin53. Tlie retaining ring 53 can be adjuste relative to the mixing cup 49and when a bottle or receptacle havin a short or long neck is mounted ineither o the frames previously described, the retain ing rin can beproperly adjusted upon the neck o the receptacle to securely hold thesame and limit the movement of the bottle or receptacle within the ca e.

I believe the o eration o placing a bottle or receptacle wit in my imroved cage to be obvious, but in order t at t e movement and operationof the extinguisher, when inverted may be fully understood, I willassume that the bottle is held in the position shown in Figs. 1 land 2of the drawings. When the extinguisher is inverted, the sto per 26 willdescend into the mixing cup of t e ca e and the contents of thereceptacle ori bottIe will be precipitated into the mixing cup, and willceminingle and impregnate the alkali solution carried in the casing ofthe extinguisher. The position of the bottle or receptacle within theretaining ring of the cage ma ermit of a slight movement of the bott e,ut not sufficient to permit the neck of the bottle to rest upon thebottom of the mixing cup, thereby permitting the con tents of the bottleor receptacle to enter the mixing cup and. the casing of theextinguisher.

From the foregoing description, it will be observed that I have devisednovel means for supporting a bottle or receptacle in a proper positionrelative to the casing or cap of an extinguisher, said means beingadjustable, thereby not necessitating the use of one form of bottle.

The modified forms of construction illustrated in Figs. 7 to 13inclusive, greatly simplify cages heretofore used, consequently reducingthe expense of manufacture and freeing them from all danger of beingimproperly assembled in an extinguisher.

In connection with the adjustable bottom plate 20, I desire to callattention to the fact that in connection with the false or adjustablebottom 35 together with the lugs 37, the late may be termed irregular,owin `to t e fact that it can. support bottles o various contours, thisbeing accomplished by making the lu of a sufficient height to snuglyengage t e lower edges of a bottle or receptacle and prevent the samefrom shifting upon the p ate 35. The means for supporting the plate 35,namely the lugs 34, are carried by the inner faces of the depending arms31, 31, but it will of course be understood that these lu s can becarried by the outer faces of the date 35 and the recesses 36 ma be of asugicient size to engage said lugs,th1s construction simply providing alarger bottom plate than that shown.

I also desire to call attention to the detachable depending stem carriedby the stopper, this stein being employed to govern the flow of acidfrom the bottle or receptacle of the cage, the cross area of thedepending stem being reduced when a lar er flow is desired and enlargedwhen a esser flow from the bottle or receptacle is necessary. As somebottles have larger necks than others, I have found it necessary todetach ably connect the depending stem in order that the same may bechanged to govern the fionT from the bottles or receptacles used.

The advanta e resulting in providing a cage capable o receiving andsteadily supporting bottles of different diameters, or cross-sectionalcontours, or of different heights but all of the same internal capacityor chamber-area, will be a parent, since it is not always possible to otain a bottle of a desired capacity in a shape to iit a receptacle or cae constructed so as to receive only a bottIe of a specific sha e. Forinstance, if the extinguisher is s ipped from the factor with a bottleof five ounce capacity and o circular cross-sectional form, and the cagewould accommodate only bottles of this form it will readily be perceivedthat should the bottle be broken during the use of the extinguisher, orat any other time, it would be a serious inconvenience to the owner, ifhe were unable to re-charge With any other bottle oi the same capacity,than one of the same shape and contour as the original bottle. With theconstruction of my improved cage, all such inconvenience is climmated,and danger of inability to promptly recharge the extinguisher isobviatcd.

I preferably construct my improved cages together with their appurtenantparts o a material not susceptible to the chemical action of any Huid oringredients in which they may bc subn'ierged, and While l have hereinillustrated the preferred form of construction, it is obvious that suchchanges in the minor details, size and proportion of my improved cages,as are permissible by the appended claims, may be resorted to Withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

that I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with the cap of an extinguisher, of a mixing cudetachably connected to said cap, depending curved arms carried by saidcup, and having their lower ends notched, a plate mounted upon the lowerends of said arms, said plate havin slots formed therein through Whichsai arms pass, a retaining ring carried by said arms and adapted toembrace a rece tacle supported by said plate, a horizontal rame carriedby said arms and having irregular rails adapted to embrace thereceptacle su ported by said plate, a stopper loose y mounted 1n saidreceptacle, and means to adjustablv connect said late to said arms,substantially' as described).

2. The combination with the ca of a tire extinguisher, of a mixing cupdetachably connected to said cap, depending arms carried by said cap andhaving notches formed in their lower ends, a plate adapted to fit uponthe lower ends of said arms, said plate having bayonet shaped slotsformed therein adapted to lock said plate upon said arms, a retainingring carried by said arms and ada `)ted to embrace a rece tacle carriedby sai plate, a horizontal rame carried by said arms and havingirregular rails adapted to embrace the receptacle mounted upon saidplate, substantially as described.

3. The combination with the cap of a fire extinguisher, and a rece tacleof a mixing cup carried by said ca spending arms carried by said cup anadapted to embrace said receptacle, a plate detachably connected to thelower ends of said arms and adapt/ed to support said rece tacle, aretaining ring adapted to embrace t e upper end of said receptacle, ahorizontal frame carried by said arms and adapted to en age saidreceptacle, means to adjust `said p ate, and means to lock said plate inengagement with said arms, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the ca of a re extinguisher, and a rece tacle, oa mixing cup carried by said cap, diapending arms carried by said cupand adapted to embrace said receptacle, a plate adjustably anddetachably carried by the lower ends of said arms, a retainin ringcarried by said arms and embracing tic u per end of said receptacle, ahorizontal iJrame carried by said arms and adapted to engage saidreceptacle, a stopper loosely mounted. 1n said receptacle, a detachablestem carried by said stopper, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the ca and a receptacle of a lire extinguisher,o a mixing cup carried by said cap, depending arms carried by said cup,a plate carried by said arms, a retaining ring carried by said arms andadapted to embrace the up er end of said receptacle, means todetachaiily connect said plate to said arms, means to adjust said platerelative to said arms, and means carried by said plate to fix saidreceptacle relative to said arms, substantially as described.

G. The combination With the cap and the receptacle of a fireextinguisher, of a mixmg cup carried by said cap, depending arms carriedby said cup and adapted to embrace a rece tacle, a late adjustablyconnected to the lower en s of said arms and adapted to support saidreceptacle, a retaining ring carried b said arms and embracing saidreceptac e, a stopper loosely mounted in said receptacle, and meanscarried by said plate to tix the bottom of said receptacle relative tosaid arms, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the cap of a. fire extinguisher, and areceptacle, of a mixing cup carried b said cap, depending arms carriedby sai cup, a late detachably connected to said arms an adapted to suport a receptacle, a horizontal frame carrie by said arms, and engagingsaid receptacle, a stopper mounted in said receptacle, an adlustablestem carried by said stopper, means to detachably connect said cup Withsaid cap, and means to adjust said plate, substantially as described.

8. The combination with the cap of a lire extin visher and a receptacle,of a mixing cup etachably connected to said cap, depending arms carriedby said cup, a detachable plate adjustably connected to said arms andadapted to support said receptacle, a horizontal frame carried by saidarms and adapted to engage said receptacle, said frame embodyingirregular rails adapted to enga e rece tacles of various contours,substantial y as ascribed.

9. The combination with the ca of a fire extin uisher and a receptacle,o a mixing cup etachably connected to said cap, depending arms carriedby said cap and adapted to support said receptacle, a retaining ringcarried by said arms and ernbracing sai receptacle, a horizontal framecarried by said arms and engaging said receptacle, means to adjust saidreceptacle within said arms, substantially as described.

10. The combination with the cap of a ire extinguisher, and areceptacle, of depending arms carried by said cap, a plate dctachablyconnected to said arms and adapted to spport said receptacle, aretailiing ring embracing said receptacle, a horizontal trame carried bysaid arms and engaging said receptacle, a stopper loosely mounted insaid receptacle, a depending stem detachably connected to said sto per,means to adjust said plate, substantial y as described.

11. As a new article of manufacture, a stopper for receptacles of lireextinguishers having a depending detachable stem, substantially asdescribed.

12. A cage for re extinguishers comprising a mixing-cu p, arms dependingfrom said cup, and a support for a bottle adjustably-connected to saidarms, and means for ixedly-securing the support in its adjustedposition.

13. A cage for fire extinguishers, embodying a mixing-cup, a pluralityof arms secured to said mixing cup and depending therefrom, abottle-neck retaining-ring carried by said arms, a bottle supportadjustably-connected to the arms and capable of being xedly-secured inan adjustable-position, and bottle-einln'acing means shaped to embracebottles of various cross-sectional contours. i

14. A cage for fire extinguishers embodying a plurality of armsconnected together at their upper ends, and between which an acid-bottleis received, a bottle-neck retailiing-ring carried by said arms, and abottlesupport adjustably-connected to the arms and capable of beingixedly-secured in its adjusted-position.

15. A cage for fire extinguishers embodying a plurality of armsconnected together and between which an acid-bottle is received,bottle-supporting means carried by the arms, and bottle-embracing meansseparate from the arms though connected thereto and shaped to embraceand steadily-hold bottles of various forms of cross-sectional contour.

16. In cages for lire extinguishers, a bottle embracing means comprisinga substantially rectangular frame, the sides and the ends of which areoff-set to adapt the frame to receive and steadily-hold bottles oit'various cross-sectional contours.

17. In a cage for fire extinguishers the combination with a mixing-cupand a plurality of arms secured thereto and dependin therefrom, andbetween which arms an acid-bottle is adapted to be received, of bottleembracing means connected to the arms intermediate their ends and shapedto encircle and engage and steadily-support between the arms bottles ofvarious cross-seetional contours.

18, A cage for fire extinguishers embodying a mixing-cup, a plura ity ofarms carried by said mixing-cup and de ending therefrom, abottle-support adjustably-connected to said arms and capable of beingfixedly-secured in its adjusted-position, and a retaining ringadjustably connected t0 said arms.

19.l A cage for fire extinguishers embodying a plurality of cage-armsconnected at their upper ends, bottle-supporting meansadjustably-eonnected to said arms and a retaining-ringadjustably-connected to the arms near their upper ends.

20. A stop er for acid-receptacles of tire extinguis ers, comprising thestopper proper, a stem detachably-conneeted thereto, and a sleevesurrounding said stem.

21. A stopper for acid-receptacles of fire extinguishers, comprising thestopper proper, a depending detachable stem secured thereto, and adetachable sleeve surrounding said stem.

22. A cage for fire extinguishers, comprising arms connected together attheir upper ends, and a support for a bottle adjustably-connected tosaid arms and capable o f being fixedly-secured in theadjusted-position.

23. In fire extinguishers, the combination with an extinguisher-lid orcover, of. a cage for the acid-receiving bottle, comprlsinbottle-receiving means suspended from said lid or cover, andbottle-supporting means adjustably-connected to the bottlereeeivingmeans and capable of being fixedlysecured in the adjusted-position.

24. In a tire extinguisher, a cage comprising a pair of cage arms, abottle support connected to said arms, and means intermediate the endsof the arms to engage and stea dily-support between the arms bottles ofdifferent diameters and cross-sectional contours having the sameinterior capacity or chamber-area.

25. In a fire extinguisher, the combination with an extinguisher-lid orcover, of a cage structure suspended from said lid or cover andcomprising bottle-receiving means, and a bottle support carried by thebottlereceiving means, and means adjustable toward and away from the lidor cover carried by the cage structure to engage and steadily-support inthe bottlereceiving means Ibottles of different diameters andcross-sectional contours of equal interior capacity or chamber-area.

26. In fire extinguishers, a cage adapted to receive and steadilysupport bottles of varying cross sectinal contours, said cage embodyinga bottle support or rest adjustable toward and away from the upper endof the ca e.

27. In hre-extinguishers, a suspended cage for the acid-receivingbottle, comprising bottle-receiving means embodying cage-arms, andbottle-engaging means other than the cage-arms though connected theretoto engage and steadily-support in the bottle-receiving means bottles ofdifferent diameters and cross-sectional contours having the sameinterior capacity or chamber-area.

28. A cage for the acid-receiving bottle of tire-extinguishers, saidcage adapted to receive bottles of various cross-sectional con- 1 tours,means in said cage for engagement With the bottle to firmly hold thesame irrespective of its cross-sectional contour, and means forincreasing and decreasing the length of thecage to conform to the lengthof the bottle supported therein.

29. A stopper for acid receptacles of fire extinguishers, comprising animperforate stopperhead to rest on the end and normally seal the openingof the acid receptacle, a stem connected to said stopper-head, and asleeve adjustably secured to said stem, the said stem and sleeve beingmovable With the stopper-head upon the inversion of the acid receptacleand the resultant movement of the1 stopper-head away from the acidreceptac e.

30. A cage for the acid receptacle of a lre extinguisher embodying a suport adjustable toward and away from tlie top of the cage for supportingreceptacles of var ing length and means to engage and steadily supportreceptacles of different diameters and cross-sectional contours.

31. A cage for fire extinguishers embodying a mixing cup, a plurality ofarms secured to said mixing cup and dependent therefrom, a bottle neckretaining ring carried by said arms, a bottle support connected to thearms, and a bottle embracing means shaped to embrace bottles of varyingcross sectional contours.

32, A cage for the acid receptacle of a lire extinguisher comprising aplurality of arms` a bottle support adjustably connected to said armsand capable of being fixedly secured in its adjusted position, and aretaining ring adjustably connected to said arms.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS F. HANDLY.

Witnesses:

E. E. POTTER, C. KLcs'rERMANN.

